Charleston is a tidal harbour with a five to six foot range and a maze of creeks behind it, and that single fact organises the whole hire market. Where you can go, and when, is decided by the state of the tide rather than by the boat, and the operators here are considerably more insistent about that than in most American day markets.
The tide decides the day
Shem Creek, Bowens Island and the marsh creeks behind Sullivan's and the Isle of Palms are shallow enough that a low tide closes them. Morris Island and Capers Island, the two classic Charleston boat destinations, are approached across sandbars that shift. A good operator plans the day around the tide table and says so; one that does not is worth avoiding.
How it is priced
By the half day or the day, captained or bareboat depending on the operator and the boat, with a certified guest capacity on captained vessels. Fuel is often billed separately. Ask about the tide plan, the certified capacity, whether a licence or a boater education card is required for a bareboat hire, and what happens if a thunderstorm closes the afternoon, which in summer it frequently does.
What it is not
It is not a charter week and does not price like one. The published figures on this site are weekly: The Moorings publishes $5,579 for a 7 day Bahamian charter for two and $3,284 for the same in the British Virgin Islands, both of them a whole boat for seven days in a cruising ground. A Charleston day is a few hours in a tidal estuary and the two do not compare.
Questions people ask about charleston boat rentals
How much is a boat rental in Charleston?
It is a half-day or day market and no company in this record publishes a Charleston rate. Fuel is often billed separately.
Does the tide really matter?
Yes, more than in most American hire markets. A five to six foot range closes the marsh creeks at low water and the approaches to Morris and Capers cross shifting sandbars.
Do I need a licence?
For a bareboat hire many operators require a boater education card or equivalent. Captained hire does not, and capacity is then set by the vessel's certificate.